Starguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2014
Posts: 1,779 
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Post by Starguy on Jul 22, 2022 17:32:55 GMT -5
Wow Tela rockjunquieThose pieces are all amazing. You should definitely break out the torch again. That Bruneau cab is pretty droolworthy as are the rest of them. I really like the simplicity of the metal smithing, yet each piece is really elegant. Thanks for reposting. I hadn’t seen them before. |
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rockbrain
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2022
Posts: 1,314
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Post by rockbrain on Jul 22, 2022 17:47:35 GMT -5
Yes, they're all beautiful but I'm really drawn to the first three and especially to the second one. As others have said there's just a beautiful simplicity to these.
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goldfinder
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 132
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Post by goldfinder on Jul 22, 2022 19:22:06 GMT -5
Wowza those are all really exceptional!! I normally prefer the silver to copper but that last one, the Owyhee is superb! The copper really goes with the color of the stone and it makes a great combo. Subtle but elegant. Same with the mahogany Jasper, the copper really blends very nicely with the stone.
Seeing these pictures definitely gives me encouragement to get some tanks and regulators for the little smith torch I got for Christmas last year. I got my feet wet with a cheap propane torch previously and know that metal smithing definitely has a big learning curve. Thanks for posting those stellar creations!
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Post by Pat on Jul 22, 2022 19:53:35 GMT -5
Like everything, especially the backplates you created. Lovely work. Thanks!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 24, 2022 8:55:11 GMT -5
Wow Tela rockjunquie Those pieces are all amazing. You should definitely break out the torch again. That Bruneau cab is pretty droolworthy as are the rest of them. I really like the simplicity of the metal smithing, yet each piece is really elegant. Thanks for reposting. I hadn’t seen them before. Thank you so much.  I really enjoy silverwork. I like designing for it the best, but I'm afraid my ideas surpass my skills at this point. I did not find these easy to do. LOL! |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 24, 2022 8:57:30 GMT -5
Yes, they're all beautiful but I'm really drawn to the first three and especially to the second one. As others have said there's just a beautiful simplicity to these. Thank you. I've been inspired by countless smithies whose work I admire. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 24, 2022 9:00:26 GMT -5
Wowza those are all really exceptional!! I normally prefer the silver to copper but that last one, the Owyhee is superb! The copper really goes with the color of the stone and it makes a great combo. Subtle but elegant. Same with the mahogany Jasper, the copper really blends very nicely with the stone. Seeing these pictures definitely gives me encouragement to get some tanks and regulators for the little smith torch I got for Christmas last year. I got my feet wet with a cheap propane torch previously and know that metal smithing definitely has a big learning curve. Thanks for posting those stellar creations! Thank you very much! I like the copper pieces, as well. I think I had another that I didn't post. I'll have to find it. Soldering copper is a little more difficult (for me), but it's worth it. I want to get a little smith torch. Not crazy about my acetylene and air. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 24, 2022 9:01:24 GMT -5
Like everything, especially the backplates you created. Lovely work. Thanks! Thank you, Pat. I like doing outsized backplates- now I just have to beat that firescale... |
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victor1941
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since November 2011
Posts: 1,699
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Post by victor1941 on Jul 24, 2022 9:07:45 GMT -5
Covellite is definitely my favorite and owyhee jasper a close second. Excellent work!
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 24, 2022 9:27:10 GMT -5
Wowza those are all really exceptional!! I normally prefer the silver to copper but that last one, the Owyhee is superb! The copper really goes with the color of the stone and it makes a great combo. Subtle but elegant. Same with the mahogany Jasper, the copper really blends very nicely with the stone. Seeing these pictures definitely gives me encouragement to get some tanks and regulators for the little smith torch I got for Christmas last year. I got my feet wet with a cheap propane torch previously and know that metal smithing definitely has a big learning curve. Thanks for posting those stellar creations! The following piece is etched to extend the lines in the cherry creek. The solder is a little messy in one spot, but it came out ok for my first etched backplate.
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 24, 2022 9:27:46 GMT -5
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Post by rockjunquie on Jul 24, 2022 9:28:14 GMT -5
Covellite is definitely my favorite and owyhee jasper a close second. Excellent work! Thank you! |
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goldfinder
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 132
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Post by goldfinder on Jul 24, 2022 17:05:19 GMT -5
Oh wow, that one is phenomenal! Looks like you saved one of the best for last! I really like how you etch the setting to match the pattern of the cab. Not sure if I've seen that done before. What would you say is more difficult about soldering copper than silver? I've only soldered gold so far (just soldering some simple earring posts to some gold nuggets I found). |
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 9, 2022 16:37:41 GMT -5
Oh wow, that one is phenomenal! Looks like you saved one of the best for last! I really like how you etch the setting to match the pattern of the cab. Not sure if I've seen that done before. What would you say is more difficult about soldering copper than silver? I've only soldered gold so far (just soldering some simple earring posts to some gold nuggets I found).
I guess it's the solder for copper that bothers me. It doesn't match well and it's not as user friendly. But, I haven't soldered enough to give an very educated opinion. |
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 9, 2022 16:44:39 GMT -5
Dang...I missed that you posted another piece! Sheesh, I'm getting too sidetracked here lately!  I think goldfinder nailed it when he mentioned the etching on the setting. Fantastic visualization with this piece my friend! |
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 9, 2022 16:50:26 GMT -5
Dang...I missed that you posted another piece! Sheesh, I'm getting too sidetracked here lately! I think goldfinder nailed it when he mentioned the etching on the setting. Fantastic visualization with this piece my friend! Thank you, Jason! |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 9, 2022 17:24:22 GMT -5
I missed it, too!  Beautiful piece, Tela. Trick for soldering copper -- use silver solder and then when you go to pickle it, use a small container with some used pickle and contaminate it with something steel - even a bit of steel wool will do it (not stainless steel). The steel will cause a reaction to make the copper in the pickle flash on to the silver solder. |
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Post by rockjunquie on Aug 9, 2022 19:29:38 GMT -5
I missed it, too! Beautiful piece, Tela. Trick for soldering copper -- use silver solder and then when you go to pickle it, use a small container with some used pickle and contaminate it with something steel - even a bit of steel wool will do it (not stainless steel). The steel will cause a reaction to make the copper in the pickle flash on to the silver solder. I tried that. When I went to patina the piece the color came off with the steel wool. Have you done it successfully? Maybe I did it wrong. I only tried it once. |
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Post by hummingbirdstones on Aug 9, 2022 20:44:05 GMT -5
I've done it, but I didn't patina my piece. Most likely you will need to do it a number of times to build the layer up thick enough so it doesn't come off with your brass brush. Kind of like when you depletion guild a piece of Sterling. You have to do it a number of times. Heat the piece up (doesn't need to be that hot), into the pickle for a little bit, repeat. I'd probably do it a good 5 or 6 times (or knowing me, 10 to make sure  ). Test it out on a scrap piece of copper and see if that works. |
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Post by liveoak on Aug 10, 2022 7:53:44 GMT -5
For soldering copper I've found that the copper solder sold that's NOT self fluxing works the best and is at least a darker color than silver solder. I got mine at Rio, but a quick look now and they only have the self fluxing variety which I didn't get as consistent results with.
It takes a lot of heat to melt it, and I've found " Jel-Flux" works the best with it. Also, it's best if you plan to draw the solder away from where your eye will see.
The problem with flash plating, is the layer of copper is so thin that if you do anything to the piece after wards it comes off.
Patty
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I really enjoy silverwork. I like designing for it the best, but I'm afraid my ideas surpass my skills at this point. I did not find these easy to do. LOL!
). Test it out on a scrap piece of copper and see if that works.
